The 1838 completion of the Newkirk
Viaduct gave the PW&B access to Philadelphia.
Matthew Newkirk was president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore
Railroad.
At first, horses pulled trains over the viaduct
for fear that sparks from steam locomotives would set fire to it.
1Joel
Spivak collection

Update 2016: The Newkirk Monument has been moved. Read all about it at Hidden City Daily.